TOPICAL TREATMENTS FOR HYDROFLUORIC-ACID DERMAL BURNS - FURTHER ASSESSMENT OF EFFICACY USING AN EXPERIMENTAL PIG MODEL

Several topical treatments for hydrofluoric acid dermal burns (Zephira n(R), calcium acetate and magnesium hydroxide antacid soaks, and calci um gluconate gel) were assessed for efficacy in a pig model. Gross app earance and histopathology of treated and untreated burn sites were ev aluated. For superficial burns, Zephiran was most effective; calcium a cetate, magnesium hydroxide antacid, and calcium gluconate gel were le ss effective. For deep burns, gross observations showed that calcium a cetate and Zephiran were most efficacious, whereas histopathology indi cated comparable efficacy of Zephiran, calcium acetate, and calcium gl uconate gel for all skin layers. Magnesium hydroxide antacid demonstra ted efficacy only for the subdermis. The clinically beneficial effects of both Zephiran and calcium gluconate gel were affirmed. Although re sults suggest that calcium acetate and magnesium-containing antacids m ay be beneficial for human hydrofluoric acid dermal burns, these are n ot established clinical treatments.